Wrist Spin Bowling (part Five)

Had a great practice the other day. Was throwing legbreaks from a short distance. Really working on the snap at the end of the release and getting more work than ever on the ball. Some really turning and moving strangely in the air. Accuracy another matter mind you.
 
Had possibly my most encouraging practice ever. Just standing start stuff but really turning and it looked like I was getting some very wide seam angles. Not quite sure what was going on but I am sticking with it whatever it was. I was working on a straighter arm (I've been almost totally roundarm). The breakthrough happened when I relaxed about the straighter arm but concentrated on trying to follow through straight with the bowling arm (i.e. imagining coming through on the right side of the body. Trying to be relaxed as possible as well. I think that is so important.

I'm enjoying this, takes patience but I really am improving.
 
Had possibly my most encouraging practice ever. Just standing start stuff but really turning and it looked like I was getting some very wide seam angles. Not quite sure what was going on but I am sticking with it whatever it was. I was working on a straighter arm (I've been almost totally roundarm). The breakthrough happened when I relaxed about the straighter arm but concentrated on trying to follow through straight with the bowling arm (i.e. imagining coming through on the right side of the body. Trying to be relaxed as possible as well. I think that is so important.

I'm enjoying this, takes patience but I really am improving.

For me, the key thing is to be relaxed and having an uncluttered mind. Trying to focus on technical things when you are bowling makes bowling really difficult. It's a catch 22 situation because, at some point, you have to focus on and work on technical things. But there is no doubt that relaxing and not thinking about your action is fundamental to bowling well.
 
Absolutely correct CP. Your run up and delivery is something that should be performed on auto pilot. You shouldn't be thinking about it at all. All your mental processes should be devoted entirely to what ball you are intending to bowl and where you want the ball to land.
I put up a post about batting routines because it is a vital part of learning how to bat and in continuing to bat well.
It is just as important to bowlers. Everyone will have a different routine, there is no right or wrong routine it is simply what you have worked out that works best for you. Here is mine.
I get the ball in my hand and check it for tears, scuffing etc. I apply spit to those areas if it is the good side of the ball and polish it really well. If it isn't I leave it alone. Always remember that you aren't the only bowler and having a good side to the ball will help to benefit the quick and medium pace bowlers in your side as well as providing a slightly different bounce and spin for the smoother and rougher sides.
I mentally check the sort of shots the batsman has been playing for his previous shots and select the sort of ball that I think will get me a wicket or will help in setting a pattern that will enable me to get a wicket in the next couple of balls. It may be some other ball entirely, I might want him to remain at the same end at the end of an over or I might want to see if I can get him down the other end for whatever reason.
I get to my mark fix the ball with the grip I want, for the ball I want to bowl. I pick the spot on the pitch that I want the ball to hit and mentally imagine bowling the perfect ball that lands exactly where I want it to land. I focus on that spot, begin my run up and I continue to focus on the spot where I want the ball to land and then deliver the ball. If your thoughts are on how to do your nun up and delivery then you won't be focusing on the ball you want to deliver.
If you need to improve your run up and delivery, work on them at practice until they become something that you do without any conscious thought.
 
Absoluely. Routine is a massive part of the process. All a part of repeating the action. It's also very good for preventing you from rushing your bowling. That's something you see a lot from young bowlers when they are under pressure. They just try to get through the over as quickly as possible. Having a routine helps to prevent that a little bit.
 
For me, the key thing is to be relaxed and having an uncluttered mind. Trying to focus on technical things when you are bowling makes bowling really difficult. It's a catch 22 situation because, at some point, you have to focus on and work on technical things. But there is no doubt that relaxing and not thinking about your action is fundamental to bowling well.

Indeed - the time for thinking about technical things is January to March. During the season you should stay in the present, think tactics not technique, and just try to enjoy your bowling.
 
I was watching the cricket yesterday, and not only did Mendis bowl an absolute textbook slider out of the front of his hand with a scrambled seam and 45 degree spin (sidespin and backspin), but the camera captured it perfectly in slow motion AND the commentator correctly identified it as a slider, and that it was probably the most common legspinner's variation after the googly.
 
I was watching the cricket yesterday, and not only did Mendis bowl an absolute textbook slider out of the front of his hand with a scrambled seam and 45 degree spin (sidespin and backspin), but the camera captured it perfectly in slow motion AND the commentator correctly identified it as a slider, and that it was probably the most common legspinner's variation after the googly.
Derby v Worcester? He said Slider or Zooter - again in my opinion confirming no-one has a clue what a slider is because it's never been truly established. But to be honest I sound like a broken record on this, so I should just shut up and go back to my website ;) http://www.wristspinbowling.com/blog
Thanks for the comment today, yeah you're right, but I just can't get anyone to bowl at, maybe Boogie Spinner will oblige?
 
Has anyone read the book by Menno Gazendam called the "Spin Bowling Project Guide". It is available at his website.
http://spinbowlingtips.com/
I'm interested, but at $99 it is a little expensive to buy on spec.
Menno's a bit of an enigma, he seems to have gone off the radar at the moment, its as though it was never really was his thing and it was just something he knocked up as he knew something about it (He's got some form, so there is come credibility). Weird thing his E-book must come with some hefty copyright threats because nothing is ever seen from it, no-one ever discusses it.:confused:
 
Menno's a bit of an enigma, he seems to have gone off the radar at the moment, its as though it was never really was his thing and it was just something he knocked up as he knew something about it (He's got some form, so there is come credibility). Weird thing his E-book must come with some hefty copyright threats because nothing is ever seen from it, no-one ever discusses it.:confused:


Its probably because literally no-one has ever bought it
 

Any tips?
Any feedback?

Hi Rob, it's a bit hard to see much with a view only from the back. Your run up looks OK. Can't tell anything about your delivery stride (you'll need a side on view).Two things I picked up, the first is where your bowling arm finishes. The bowling arm circle was discussed on another thread, from the video your bowling arm is coming down on the on the wrong side of your body. Your hand should finish near your hip on the opposite side to your bowling arm.
Secondly your front foot needs to land near the popping crease in line with the stump nearest to you. This will help you to increase your body action, leading to more spin.
Have a look at this Shane Warne slo mo video.

Look where his bowling hand finishes and check the line where his front foot lands in relation to the stumps.
Don't bowl no balls like the one shown. More than a little bit over!
Was that a googly in your video?
 
Guys, just a reminder on good practice: please don't give technical advice to someone you've never met based on unclear video footage, its highly unprofessional. Without carrying out due diligence including a live assessment, your advice is almost certainly wrong and likely to lead to poor quality outcomes. Even if you are a fully qualified and insured coach, this would count as obvious malpractice and leave you open to legal action should the recipient injure themselves or reduce their performance upon taking your advice. if you're not a fully qualified and insured coach, then.... jesus wept....
 
SLA, welcome to the internet! It's a place where ordinary folk, amateurs, can exchange problems and make suggestions without it being construed as professional advice. I don't know if Jesus bowled legspin, but I think he would have encouraged the sharing of ideas and mutual support that exists in these forums.
 
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